Oregon

Crawford

vs

School District

William Crawford and his wife were both half-Native and half-white. They had five children. Their two daughters, Juanita (age 9) and Naoma (age 8) had attended a public school for two years. September 27, 1912, the Crawford girls were turned away from the school they had been attending, due to their race. Crawford sued the school board of District No. 7, of Klamath County to keep his daughters enrolled. The family claimed they lived away from any Native tribe and practiced a "civilized" life under the Dawes Act of 1887. Oregon Supreme Court Justice William Marion Ramsey concluded that there was no law in Oregon granting school boards the power to establish separate schools for students of color or exclude these children from schools intended for white children.

Further Reading

Court Decision

The official published U.S. court decision. Contains summary: Application by William Crawford "for a writ of mandamus to compel the school board of District No. 7, of Klamath County." To allow his two daughters, Juanita (age 9) and Naoma (age 8), to continue to attend the public school they had attended for two years prior to September 27, 1912. Both Crawford and his wife are half-Native and half-White. However, they claim they live separate from any Native tribe and practice a civilized life. It also contains a majority opinion written by Mr. Justice Ramsey (possibly William Marion Ramsey). Concludes that there is no law in this state of Oregon granting (or implying) school boards the power to establish separate schools for students of color, and to exclude them from schools intended for white children. Found that "the demurrers to the amended alternative writ should have been overruled, and that the trial court erred in sustaining them." "Mr. Chief Justice McBride, Mr. Justice Moore, and Mr. Justice Burnett concur."